uva essays that worked

The Class of 2025 in Their Own Words

Excerpts from admission essays for incoming first-years

Engineering in motion

Essay prompt: Describe an engineering feat that serves the common good and why it inspires you to study engineering.

No piece of engineering is quite as versatile as the bicycle. For many, the bicycle acts as a low-cost alternative to cars, buses, and other motor vehicles. Others are drawn to bicycles as an emissions-free method of transportation, and still more use bikes for exercise and pleasure. The bicycle inspires me to study engineering because it combines all the elements of my mindset going into the field of engineering, namely: health, sustainability, and a humanitarian focus.

One of the beauties of the bicycle’s design is its simplicity: a pair of wheels, a set of pedals, and a chain. This simplicity enables bicycles to be manufactured cheaply, making them the transportation method of choice for many disadvantaged areas of the world. In the same way, I hope to engineer solutions for the benefit of disadvantaged communities everywhere.

The bicycle is also the perfect example of sustainability. In a world increasingly aware of its own carbon footprint, emissions-free solutions to transportation, like the bicycle, will only gain greater popularity. Similarly, my thinking in the engineering field will be molded by ideas of eco-friendliness.

Finally, the bike is also an excellent piece of technology for those looking to exercise. As an avid biker myself, I am especially passionate about this dimension of its design. In a country facing greater health challenges each year, it is important to have engineers thinking of solutions with a public health mindset, and the bike exemplifies this mindset perfectly. 

—Sean Mahoney (Engr ’25)

Paint on a page

I can’t tell you the difference between cross country and track and field, but I can tell you that the relay baton I used in 7th grade played a D natural when I hit it against my hand. I would recognize the note by the spot of yellow that would appear in my mind’s eye as the baton made contact with my palm: pale yellow, like the fading coat of paint on an old school bus. By middle school, I knew that my colorful sensory condition saturated every aspect of my life.

I have synesthesia, an intertwining of the senses. One sense triggers another. When I hear sounds, I see colors. When I see certain colors, I taste or smell different flavors and scents. Letters and numbers have their own hues. Peaches taste like ocean turquoise. My favorite song is the color of a blue raspberry Jolly Rancher illuminated by the sun.

Because I experience the world simultaneously through multiple lenses, I am fascinated by interconnectedness, both tangible and intangible. This influences how I view the world, making me more aware of the complexities of other people and their perspectives. I do not see myself, ideas, or life in black and white.

Given my color-infused world, it is ironic then that black words on white paper inspire my passions for creative writing and literature. Not that I see them that way. Creative writing allows me to spill paint across a white page. Reading and analyzing literature awakens my senses, and my synesthetic brain is fine-tuned to the musicality of writing.

—Jessica Ganley (Col ’25)

A gentle old soul

When you imagine a grandmother, there are several trademarked characteristics that must be included in the mental image. For example: hearing loss, hip problems, a bountiful stash of candies to be given out at random, cat-eyed reading glasses, and if you’re feeling spicy, maybe a cardigan or two. Of course this fictional old woman knits or engages in some other fiber art. If you adjust this mental image, to make the grandmother 6 feet tall, slightly more agile, and give her great skin—oh look! It’s me. I’m convinced that an autopsy will reveal that, in place of a heart, I have a ball of yarn and a few butterscotch candies. 

When I was in seventh grade, I joined the fiber arts club hoping to find some peers who also appreciate the value of working for weeks on a scarf that’s too itchy to use. First, I learned to crochet. My grandmothers introduced me to knitting as well. My school desk is actually a sewing table, with the sewing machine hidden behind a false drawer, under a removable panel. It’s very James Bond—if James Bond were an elderly woman and the fate of the free world rested upon a haphazardly made poncho.

People have told me I have an “old soul” all my life, and it isn’t a quality without flaws. I’m a bit of a pushover. When I was little, and coerced into playing soccer, my official position on the team was flower picker. I was hopelessly passive, even for a volunteer-coached team of fruit-snack fueled four-year-olds. 

That being said, I’ve found being sensitive is usually helpful, if not for me, then for others. Social justice depends on the sensitivity of the masses. It requires us to care enough about other people to act in their best interests. This becomes clear in an increasingly chaotic world. I’m grateful that empathy comes easy to me. It drives a passion for helping others. 

—Meghan Powers (Col ’25)

A word to aspire to

Essay prompt: What’s your favorite word and why?

I was working a quiet evening shift at Denny’s when I first heard the word assiduous .

I was sulking a bit that day. I had kept missing easy shots at field hockey practice that afternoon and the NHS rejection letter I opened before work only made things worse. As childish as it sounds, it felt like nothing I did mattered.

I was busy brooding when someone came in. I sat him in a booth by the window myself. He had a kind smile so I chatted with him as I took his order. 

It was surprisingly pleasant. He told terrible jokes that I could not help but laugh at. When he heard I was a student he asked what I planned to study. I began speaking excitedly.

I spoke of engineering and women who inspired me. I rambled about Farida Bedwei, Edith Clarke, and Mary Jackson. I talked about the things I wanted to do, the person I wanted to be. It was not until I handed him his check that I realized how long I was talking. Before walking out the door, he said with a final smile, “You are a rather assiduous young lady.” I laughed and thanked him. Then I looked up what it meant: To be diligent and persevering.

I frowned a bit. I did not think I was a very assiduous person, but I couldn’t help but want to be. To be the kind of person who worked hard and persisted through failure.

Since that day to be assiduous has become almost a goal of mine and has become my favorite word.

—Dedra Dadzie (Engr ’25)

The house in the middle

It’s an odd sight: a secluded neighborhood with only two houses, one brown and one white, on opposite sides of the street. It seems as if they are in their own galaxies, repelled by one another. I’m drawn to the espresso-colored house.

The deep almond-colored walls—a reflection of my brown skin—radiate an inimitable sense of warmth and comfort. The scent of fresh-cooked naan and kebabs fosters an overwhelming sense of hunger. As Lakdi Ki Kathi plays in the background, I sing along without missing even a syllable of my favorite song. My mom calls out my name “Zain!” in a way that it rhymes with “tan.” Dressed in shalwar kameez , I feel proud. I feel understood. I feel like I’m more than enough. Yet an ineffable part of me feels missing.

I exit with a strong desire to explore and expand at the white house. As I amble toward it, the feeling of warmth slowly evaporates from my body.

The bright, bleached walls blind me; the adjustment from a warm coffee, to a foreign, beaming white immediately unsettles me. The scent of freshly sharpened pencils and pungent Expo markers permeates the air, with an undertone of pizza and fries. My ears immediately observe the obscure tune in the background; the only decipherable content seems to be “trucks” and “blue jeans.” Someone in the house exclaims “Zain!” so that it rhymes with “plain.” I realize I’m dressed in a collared polo shirt, khaki pants, and black dress shoes; my confidence is stripped away. I feel misunderstood. I feel like I am not enough. And this time, it is much more apparent that something is missing.

As I return to the street, both houses continue to tug at me. I am lost in the middle of two worlds: my innate Pakistani home culture and my primarily white educational environment. I notice a new construction site in the lot between the white and brown houses. A feeling of liberation and certainty fills me. This one, I realize, is my house, and I am building it. 

—Zain Ahmed (Col ’25)

Grounded in the chaos

Well-grounded, shiny, and square—a black IKEA table is my command center. The three and a half feet square stands three feet high, and has become central to my identity. Located in the living room, in the midst of my family’s madness, it is situated next to the couches where my energetic mom claps to the Friends theme song every night. When I’m sitting there, I have a clear view into the kitchen where my bustling parents hastily prepare dinner—Mexican is a McLaughlin staple. The chaotic background noise helps me think clearly, and because of my prime location, I am privy to every conversation that takes place on the first and second floors of my house. “Hey, that’s not right,” I yell, when my parents are talking about me. I passionately interject and insert commentary.

From homework to remote learning lessons, I complete each assignment and prepare for the next school day from the confines of this black square. My table is my safe haven, and with each daunting task I undertake, it maintains its steady composure and remains as it was when I left it—steadfast despite the chaos interjected by my fun-loving family. The table supports my determination, relentless drive, and passion for learning. 

It is a symbol of my diligence and relentless perseverance. Like me, it is grounded, the table to the hardwood floors, as I am by the morals and examples set by my parents and sisters: respect, honesty, and selflessness. Sturdy and strong, I too can take a beating, and I am a force to be reckoned with, fierce, strong-willed, and hardworking by nature. 

—Catherine Ann McLaughlin (Col ’25)

A romance with Romance

Helpless, I stand beneath the swirling black clouds. The mast groans as the north wind howls mercilessly, striking the sail head on. Gaping surges of seawater snatch the surrounding fleet and hurl them onto sandbanks and spikes of rock. Saltwater lashes my skin; the boat plummets this way and that; procella fluctusque ad sidera tollit. And the storm lifts the waves to the stars , I write with a smile, pleased with how effortlessly the translation comes into my head and in awe of Virgil’s lyricism. Even as I close my notebook, a faint whistling still fills my bedroom.

OK, I’ve never personally been stranded in the Mediterranean Sea amid a storm invoked by “the unforgetting anger of savage Juno” (ominous, right?)—I’ve just lived vicariously through Aeneas. I’ve also been ambushed by barbarians with Caesar and watched the eruption of Vesuvius with Pliny the Younger, all from the comfort and safety of my own desk. Instead of tidal waves and tearing winds, I’ve navigated ablatives and accusatives. I’ve methodically matched verbs to objects and nouns to modifiers with only a few telltale letters to go on, and, in doing so, unraveled the most intricate grammar into a retelling of the fall of Troy. 

As a self-proclaimed “STEM person” ever since I laid eyes on an astronomy book at age 7, my romance with the forefather of Romance languages was unexpected, to say the least. I’ve always embraced the meticulous and methodical side of myself. It’s the side captivated by chemistry and calculus, but now I also recognize it as the side that idolizes Virgil as a mathematical genius. I mean, seriously—there are 9,896 lines in the Aeneid , and the guy had to analyze every single letter to satisfy the complex dactylic hexameter! But Latin has bridged my quantitative nature to the part of me I often discount: the one pulled to open-ended beauty.

—Avery Niven (Col ’25)

Waking up local schools

Essay prompt: Rita Dove, UVA English professor and former U.S. Poet Laureate, once said in an interview that “…there are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.” Describe a time when, instead of complaining, you took action for the greater good.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! The alarm awakened my grumpy side. The 7:30 a.m. high school start time was destructive. It caused an endless cycle of lethargy and crankiness. For the good of 30,000 high school students, I chose to do something about it. 

To challenge the start time, I delved into the research. In Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, he cites several benefits of later start times, such as improved academic performance, focus, and mental health, as well as a decrease in road accidents and substance abuse for teens. A neighboring school district conducted a study on later start times, which spurred me to do the same. I conducted interviews and surveyed hundreds of students in my school district. I pitched my ideas and discussed the feasibility with associate superintendents and administration.

On Jan. 22, 2020, I presented my case before the School Board. The board members were intrigued by my proposal. A month later, they directed the superintendent to “study possible changes to student start times.” Validation! Progress was being made.

Then the pandemic hit. The county’s focus shifted to distance learning. For the 2020-2021 virtual school year, the county decided to change the high school start time to 8:30 a.m. As a result, I’m getting more quality sleep and feeling energized for a day of learning. More importantly, my peers are benefiting from the later start times both physically and mentally. 

Although I do not know if my voice influenced the county’s decision, I’m proud of myself for taking action rather than sleeping in.

—Benjamin Kim (Col ’25)

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Successful University of Virginia Essays

These are  successful college essays  of students that were accepted to University of Virginia . Use them to see what it takes to get into UVA and other top schools and get inspiration for your own Common App essay, supplements, and short answers. These successful UVA essays include Common App essays , University of Virginia  supplements , and other University of Virginia  essays .

UVA Essays →

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What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way? (~250 words) When I first looked…...

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Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (650 words) Sitting in

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University of Virginia (UVA) Supplemental Essays 2024-25 — Prompts & Advice

August 7, 2024

The University of Virginia is one of the handful of flagship public institutions in the United States that attract massive numbers of high-achieving applicants from around the country/globe each and every year. In the most recent admissions cycle, nearly 60,000 students applied and only 16% were accepted. While becoming a Cavalier is challenging for a Virginia resident, out-of-staters and international applicants face an even tougher admissions gauntlet. You’ll likely need a straight A average (or very close) to get serious consideration at the 2024 version of UVA and an SAT in the 99th percentile (or better) doesn’t hurt either. And that brings us to today’s main topic- the UVA supplemental essays.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into the University of Virginia? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into the University of Virginia: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

With only one supplemental essay for the majority of applicants (you’ll only need to write more than one if applying to the School of Nursing or the Dance program), UVA’s supplemental section affords applicants the chance to illustrate what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below are the University of Virginia’s supplemental prompts for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing winning essays.

2024-2025 UVA Supplemental Essay (All Applicants)

What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA? Feel free to write about any past experience or part of your background that has shaped your perspective and will be a source of strength, including but not limited to those related to your community, upbringing, educational environment, race, gender, or other aspects of your background that are important to you. (300 words)

This prompt asks you to not only share a particular life experience, element of your background, or perspective but also describe why that experience, element, or perspective will help you serve as a source of strength to either yourself or those around you. Essentially, it’s asking you to take your essay’s reflection one step further—you’ll need to communicate why the experience or element you’ve chosen is important to you as well as why/how you believe it will allow you to thrive at UVA or positively impact the UVA community.

UVA Supplemental Essays (Continued)

First, choose a key aspect of your experiences, background, or identity that reveals something deep and meaningful. (Although you could choose more than one, we’d advise against it, given that you only have 300 words in which to respond.) As you brainstorm, consider the following avenues:

• Your role in your family.
• A challenge you’ve faced.
• A formative experience or realization.
• Important aspects of your upbringing.
• Cultural, religious, or community influence.
• Racial background.
• Sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Secondly, you’ll need to explain how you’ll use what you’ve learned to persist through future personal challenges or strengthen others at UVA. Will your life experiences allow you to uplift those around you? Will your unique perspective enable you to connect more deeply with others? Has your experience or background provided you with a perspective that will benefit and support you as you move on to college? Will your background make it possible for you to advocate more effectively for specific populations? If you connect with at least one of these questions, you’re headed in the right direction for this essay.

UVA Program-Specific Essays

School of nursing.

In the field of nursing, you will encounter and impact real human lives. Please explain why you feel this is important as you choose this field as your future career. (250 words)

“A nurse is not what you do, it is who you are.”

This quote from an anonymous source captures the idea that becoming a nurse is more of a calling than a profession you just stumble into. Nurses are willing to work long shifts in the service of others, be on the frontlines of a pandemic, and deal with life’s toughest challenges (e.g., suffering and death) on a regular basis. Many applicants share stories of caring for sick relatives or going through a tough medical episode themselves as inspiration for wanting to study nursing—and positively impact the lives of others in the process. This essay is a chance to show the admissions committee that you are a passionate and mature nursing candidate and that nursing is genuinely “who you are.”

Dance Program

Submit a short essay discussing your interest in dance as a practice and/or a form of scholarship. What roles have dance and movement played in your life thus far? What insights and connections have you made in your day-to-day and academic life through the practice and study of movement? What do you hope to explore further by participating in dance program courses upon entry to UVA? (275 words)

Essentially, UVA wants to understand how your participation in dance has impacted your life. How has it benefited, strengthened, and/or challenged you as a person? Moreover, they’d like to understand the connections you’ve made between dance and other academic subjects, if any—what interdisciplinary connections have you observed? How has your academic life been made richer by dance? Finally, in addition to how dance has already impacted you, UVA is looking for a brief discussion of what the future holds in regard to dance, and how you plan to pursue that future at UVA.

How important are the UVA supplemental essays?

The essays (both the Common App essay and the supplemental response(s)) are “important” to the UVA admissions committee. This places them in the same tier of importance as extracurricular activities and talent/ability. Standardized test scores are rated a notch below as “considered.” Read more about the importance of the UVA supplemental essays in the fabulous  Notes from Peabody blog .

At UVA, the rigor of your coursework, class rank, GPA, recommendations, character/personal qualities, and state residency status are the most important factors in the admissions process. However, application components like the supplemental essay can serve as a critical tie-breaker between similarly credentialed applicants.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance with the UVA Supplemental Essays?

Are you interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your UVA supplemental essays? We encourage you to get a quote  today.

Looking for additional writing resources? Consider checking out the following blogs:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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University of Virginia (UVA) 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action/Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

University of Virginia (UVA) 2024-25 First-Year Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words, 1 essay of 250 words for applicants to the School of Nursing only

Supplemental Essay Type(s) : Why , Community

In around 250 words, please answer the following question:

What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at uva  feel free to write about any past experience or part of your background that has shaped your perspective and will be a source of strength, including but not limited to those related to your community, upbringing, educational environment, race, gender, or other aspects of your background that are important to you..

Odds are that this isn’t the first “diversity” essay prompt you’ve come across this year—even if the prompt doesn’t explicitly use that word. However, if it is, please read on! UVA wants to accept students from a range of backgrounds who will contribute to an inclusive community. This prompt uses the phrase “source of strength” twice, which tells us that they want to hear about not only what makes you you , but also how these characteristics will sustain you and support those around you. What you focus on here can be reflective of larger cultural constructs or specific to you and only you. Is there anything you can teach your classmates about your hometown, traditions, culture, orientation, identity, race, or ethnicity that they might not already know? Maybe you began practicing meditation and discovered Buddhism during your sophomore year and you hope to spread some wisdom and mindfulness on campus next fall. Perhaps you were raised on a farm and have a very special relationship to all living things (plants, animals, people, etc.) around you. How will you incorporate this element of your identity into your college experience? Show admissions that you’re eager to make your mark in their community.

Students applying to the School of Nursing are required to answer this question in around 250 words. 

In the field of nursing, you will encounter and impact real human lives. please explain why you feel this is important as you choose this field as your future..

As a nurse, you’ll need both deep medical knowledge and the ability to interact with all kinds of people. This prompt wants you to highlight the interpersonal aspect of nursing. It’s tempting to talk in grand general terms about how medicine can impact people’s lives for the better, but take note: this prompt focuses on your future. Think about what effect you want to have on your future patients. Perhaps a nurse empathetically educated you about your condition when you were hospitalized as a child, and you want to be that person for someone else. Maybe you feel strongly that non-native English speakers aren’t being served in your small hometown and strive to be the first fully bilingual nurse in your community. Whatever drives you, be sure to center your potential impact on real people as a future nurse. 

If you have a personal or historic connection with UVA, and if you’d like to share how your experience of this connection has prepared you to contribute to the University, please share your thoughts here.  Such relationships might include, but are not limited to, being a child of someone who graduated from or works for UVA, a descendant of ancestors who labored at UVA, or a participant in UVA programs. 

Now that UVA is no longer explicitly considering legacy in their admissions process, admissions has added this question to identify not only those whose parents went to UVA, but also those whose ancestors labored at UVA. This reflects the university’s ongoing reckoning with its own founding, which included the use of enslaved labor. Here, anyone with personal or historic ties to the university, including students who attended summer programs there, can describe their unique connection. If you don’t have a connection, that’s okay! Most people won’t. If you do, however, read on.

This question doesn’t just ask you to state your tie, it asks you to explore how that connection has primed you to contribute to the community. Maybe your mom was an RA and has shared all the steam tunnel routes with you, so you can initiate your roommates into this UVA tradition. Perhaps one of your ancestors built the iconic Rotunda, and you look forward to educating your classmates about their legacy. Maybe you attended a summer program and fell in love with the Jeffersonian architecture, inspiring your passion for historic preservation. Remember, your job here is to explore how your personal connection to UVA will make you a contributor to campus life. 

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August 2, 2024

University of Virginia Supplemental Essay Prompts: 2024-2025

The University of Virginia has released its supplemental essay prompts for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle . In addition to The Common Application ’s Personal Statement, applicants to UVA’s Class of 2029 must answer one essay question. Additionally, like last year, an optional essay question is hidden at the bottom of the “General” section that we at Ivy Coach encourage students to write — even though it is the most inappropriate question posed by any of our nation’s elite universities this admissions cycle. So, what are this year’s essay prompts for Virginia’s flagship university?

2024-2025 UVA Essay Topics and Questions

Required essay prompt.

Students should answer the following prompt in around 250 words:

What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA? Feel free to write about any past experience or part of your background that has shaped your perspective and will be a source of strength, including but not limited to those related to your community, upbringing, educational environment, race, gender, or other aspects of your background that are important to you.

In the wake of the United States Supreme Court’s ruling outlawing Affirmative Action , America’s colleges are maneuvering around not being able to lawfully consider an applicant’s race in the college admissions process by capitalizing on a loophole penned in the majority opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts .

As Chief Justice Roberts wrote, “Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.”

This essay is an opportunity for applicants to discuss how their race has impacted their lives. Or they could write about their faith, their community, their sexuality, or their gender identity — the possibilities are endless. 

Optional Essay Prompt

Students should answer the following prompt in up to 100 words:

If you have a personal or historic connection with UVA, and if you’d like to share how your experience of this connection has prepared you to contribute to the university, please share your thoughts here. Such relationships might include, but are not limited to, being a child of someone who graduated from or works for UVA, a descendant of ancestors who labored at UVA, or a participant in UVA programs.

Like last year, we at Ivy Coach deem this optional essay question the most  outrageously inappropriate  prompt posed by any highly selective university during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. Why’s that?

In our experience, most UVA applicants will not choose to write a response to this optional essay prompt because they’ll think they need to be legacies , students who attended fancy schmancy UVA summer programs , or the descendants of enslaved people. Yes, the question is as jarring as it seems and, for the first two groups of people (legacies and summer camp attendees), it caters to the privileged.

It’s why we encourage  all  applicants to answer this optional essay question by writing a Why UVA essay — one filled with specific reasons why they wish to attend Virginia’s flagship. Their response should include enduring aspects of the university — programs, institutes, activities, culture, traditions, etc. — rather than names of professors and classes, which can easily be found and replaced like a game of Mad Libs from one college to the next.

So, yes, we are saying even if an applicant has no familial connection to UVA or didn’t attend a UVA summer enrichment program, they should write this essay to make their case for admission. Essays give students an opportunity to tell their stories. Legacies and summer program attendees should not be afforded more space than everyone else. Shame on UVA!

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with UVA Essays

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission to UVA by submitting essays that compel admissions officers to wish to offer you admission, fill out Ivy Coach ’s free consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to outline our college counseling services.

You are permitted to use www.ivycoach.com (including the content of the Blog) for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not copy, download, print, or otherwise distribute the content on our site without the prior written consent of Ivy Coach, Inc.

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3 Expert Tips for Tackling the UVA Essay Prompts

College Essays

Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia boasts impressive academics, competitive sports team, and a long list of notable alumni. Though about 17,000 students attend UVA, the school has an admissions rate of 19%—meaning you'll have to work hard if you want to be a Cavalier.

One of the best ways to boost your chances of admissions is by writing great UVA essays as part of your application. In this article, we'll break down what the UVA essay prompts are and how you can write responses to each prompt that will make you stand out.

What Are the UVA Supplemental Essay Prompts?

In order to apply to UVA, you'll submit the Common Application . No matter which option you choose, you'll have to complete the UVA supplement, which includes three writing prompts.

The first prompt requires a response of about 100 words, and the other two recommend 50 words each. So these are definitely more short responses than full-length essays. For the first UVA supplement essay, you're required to write a response based on the school within UVA that you're applying to. For the second and third UVA writing supplements, you get to choose the topic that resonates most with you.

UVA Essay Prompts

Here are the UVA essay prompts for 2022-2023:

We are looking for passionate students to join our diverse community of scholars, researchers, and artists. Answer this question, which corresponds to the school/program you selected above in around 100 words.

• College of Arts and Sciences — If you could create a college course that all UVA students would take, what would it be about and why?
• School of Engineering and Applied Sciences — How will you use an engineering degree to change the world for the better?
• School of Architecture —Describe a significant experience that deepened your interest in studying in the School of Architecture.
• School of Nursing —Describe a health care-related experience or another significant interaction that deepened your interest in studying nursing.
• Kinesiology Program — Describe an experience that has deepened your interest in studying kinesiology.

Prompts #2 and #3

Answer one of the following questions in around 50 words. (You'll answer one question from this set for prompt 2 and a different question from this same set for prompt 3).

What's your favorite word and why?

We are a community with quirks, both in language and in traditions. Describe one of your quirks and why it is part of who you are.

UVA students paint messages on Beta Bridge when they want to share information with our community. What would you paint on Beta Bridge and why is this your message?

About what topic could you speak for an hour?

Take us to your happy place. 

You can wake up tomorrow and a skill you already have will become expert-level. What skill is that?

What is the last gift you gave someone that wasn't bought with money?

What website is the internet missing?

After a challenging experience, how do you recharge?

Tell us about a place you'd like to share with everyone, but also keep to yourself.

Tell us about a time when, faced with an opinion or perspective that differed from your own, you responded as an empathetic speaker or a generous listener.

UVA Essays, Analyzed

Looking for advice on how to write amazing UVA essays? Let's break down how to answer each prompt.

UVA Prompt #1

The instructions are the same for all of the first UVA essays:

" We are looking for passionate students to join our diverse community of scholars, researchers, and artists. Answer this question, which corresponds to the school/program you selected above in around 100 words ."

Let's look at how to answer each one.

College of Arts and Sciences— If you could create a college course that all UVA students would take, what would it be about and why?

This slightly unusual prompt lets you show UVA what knowledge you think every student there should know. The prompt isn't asking what you think would be an interesting or fun course necessarily, but a course that every UVA student should need to take and pass in order to graduate. To answer this prompt, you'll need to decide: what topic is important for every UVA student to think about and know before they graduate? 

You could take this in a lot of different directions. You might choose a practical topic, like Intro to Paying Taxes, Basic Home and Car Repairs, or Financial Planning 101. Certainly everybody will need to know that information sooner or later! You could also choose a more abstract topic that you think no one should graduate college without thinking critically about. Topics in this area could include living sustainably, understanding prejudice, or how to be a good communicator.

Whichever topic you choose, be sure to give a brief overview of what the course would cover and, most importantly, why you think every UVA student should take it. The topic you choose is less important than your reasoning behind it, so make sure you make a strong argument for why your course choice is valuable to the entire UVA community.

School of Engineering— How will you use an engineering degree to change the world for the better?

This prompt is all about you and your plans for the future. What specifically do you plan on doing as an engineer? UVA asks this to understand your goals and motivations for wanting to enroll in their School of Engineering.

When answering this prompt, you might feel pressured to write something really impressive, like designing a space shuttle that'll allow humans to travel to Mars or developing a cheap water purification system that can be distributed to the millions of people living without access to clean drinking water. And if you do have those goals for yourself, then go for it! 

However, if you have more modest goals, don't feel like you need to "dress them up" in order to impress UVA. Wanting to become an engineer so you can create safe buildings, help people  manage and protect their data, or even just build cool roller coasters that people enjoy are just as valid.

The key is to be honest and enthusiastic about your career goals. Let your passion for engineering and your excitement for your future plans shine through, and you'll be all set for this prompt.

School of Architecture—Describe a significant experience that deepened your interest in studying in the School of Architecture.

Inspiration comes in many forms —what's important for this prompt is to think about an experience that has inspired you. Also, keep in mind that this prompt isn't asking you about a specific building or project that you love. Instead, it wants you to tell a personal story about how architecture has inspired you...and how that inspiration led you to choose architecture as a major.

The trick for this essay prompt is connecting your experience to architecture . For example, maybe you wanted to be an architect because you visited the Academy of Sciences in California, and you thought their underground aquarium was amazing. That inspired you to want to learn to build structures that create that sense of awe in others.

Whatever you choose, you should be sincere about your inspiration. Anything that sounds trite will be really obvious to the admissions committee. They'll read thousands of applications about wanting to make the tallest building in the world—make yours sound different.

School of Nursing—Describe a health care-related experience or another significant interaction that deepened your interest in studying nursing.

Don't feel like you need to highlight a huge moment here—rather, focus on something that's significant to you even if that experience was small!

The key to this prompt is to make sure that you're highlighting something real that happened to you or someone important to you. The more personal you can make the experience, the better.

Saying something like "I want to solve cancer for everyone" is less impactful than saying that you have seen firsthand how cancer affected your grandmother. Nursing is a personal profession—lean into that for this essay.

Kinesiology Program— Describe an experience that has deepened your interest in studying kinesiology.

For this prompt, focus on one experiences and discuss it in detail. Don't give an entire overview of your history—describing something more fully will resonate more than trying to cram a lot of experiences into a relatively short essay.

Be honest about what drove you to kinesiology— don't write what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. Write what's true for you.

UVA Prompts #2 and #3

Again, for both prompts 2 and 3, you'll choose one prompt from the list below (so two different prompts total) and write a response of roughly 50 words each.

This is quite an eclectic list! Of the 11 prompts, you only need to answer two, so don't worry if you can't think of a good response to some or even most of the prompts. Don't worry about choosing the two "best" prompts either; UVA chose each of these prompts which means they think they're all valuable. Choose the two that speak to you the most and that you can answer in a way that lets UVA learn more about you as a person.

Also aim to choose two prompts that show different sides of yourself as opposed to two prompts where your answers are quite similar. That helps UVA get more of a look into who you are as a person, which is the entire point of the prompts.

To choose your prompts, go through the list and think about potential responses for each question. Some you might not come up with anything for, but hopefully for a few an answer will jump out at you. For example, do you have a passion for collecting Minnie Mouse figurines? Do you have to run four miles every single morning? Do you stop everything you're doing whenever the Red Sox are playing? Do your parents always make fun of you for pronouncing a word strangely? Then you might want to answer the question about quirks. 

Or maybe the prompt about students writing messages on the Beta Bridge speaks to you. As with the other prompts, the "why" is the most important part of this prompt. Whatever message you land on, make sure you have a good reason for it.

Avoid trite or cliched phrases, like "Be the change you wish to see in the world." The admissions committee will have seen thousands of these—and those words are probably already written on Beta Bridge. What do you have to say? What message is personal to you? What lesson have you learned that you specifically can communicate?

For whichever prompts you choose, be honest and reflective so that your response gives a window of insight into who you are and what matters to you. Another thing to note: 50 words is not very long at all! So keep things concise in order to stay within the word count.

How to Write UVA Essays

Here are some general tips for how to write UVA essays that will wow the committee.

Your UVA supplement essays are a chance to show the admissions committee who you are. Take that opportunity to flesh yourself out. You're not simply a collection of A's and B's printed on a transcript. You're a real person! Show that in your UVA essays.

#2: Feedback Is Cool; Plagiarism Is Not

It can be tempting to bounce essay ideas off your peers, parents, and teachers. That's fine! But don't rely on them too heavily. Your work should be your own—from the ideas to the execution. There's a fine line between receiving helpful feedback and using that feedback in a way that misrepresents your work and ability . Seek out help, but know that you have the first and final say.

#3: Play With Form

Your UVA essays don't have to follow the traditional five paragraph structure. UVA encourages you to play with form. That means you can submit a poem, if you want!

Take advantage of the freedom from structure to write in a way that feels authentic to you. If that means starting every sentence with the letter "E", then go for it! As long as your work is well-written and engaging, the form doesn't matter.

What's Next?

There are over 5,000 colleges in the United States—how can you possibly decide which to apply to? Using a college finder tool can help you sort through your options and find your ideal school without having to tour every single campus.

Once you've decided on some colleges or universities that you're interested in attending , our guide will help you narrow down your list to safeties, matches, and reach school.

Still not sure what you're looking for in a college? Read our articles on whether you should go to a school close to home and whether you should attend a large or small college .

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Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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See the Essay That Helped This Student Get Into UVA

Jansel Ferma/Pexels

As part of College Confidential's essay series, we're sharing personal essays from students who were admitted to college during a prior admissions cycle. The student who wrote this as her essay was accepted to the University of Virginia, and we are sharing it with her permission.

I once made the mistake of sitting down during ballet class. My thighs were quivering from the petit allegro combination, my forehead stung from the unyielding pull of my excessively hair-sprayed ballet bun, and the raw skin on my toes was peeking out all bloody and tender from being shoved in wood pointe shoes for the past two hours. My ten-year-old body throbbed off-beat to the pianist's Prokofiev. I slid my sweaty back down the wall of my ballet classroom, and sat. Big mistake. Although my attempt for physical reprieve was evanescent, my Hungarian teacher experienced an ardent, even possessing, rage because of it. This fairy-like woman transformed into a red-faced banshee who lectured me vehemently about the disrespectfulness of my action. Sentenced to the corner, I was instructed to reflect on "what I had just done."

Sitting down during ballet class may seem trivial to most people, pretty much all people actually, but ballet enjoys a historic strictness that includes classroom etiquette. The austerity of the art is not limited to a ten-year-old-sitting policy: Ballet is rules -- complex, detailed, and painstaking rules. Laymen may not believe there is a right way for me to position my pinkie during a pirouette, but I assure them there is. Weirdly, the stringent intricacy of ballet is what made me fall in love with dance. The structured consistency provided me with comfort during times when everything was changing. When I moved from London to Ohio, I was faced with myriad cultural differences that were unsurprisingly unsettling. Ballet, however, was not one of them. A plié was still a plié. The consistency of dance was a soothing reminder of home in a foreign place.

Ballet continued to play an anchoring role in my life, but by seventeen it was less solace inducing and had taken on the more literal properties of an anchor. Training pre-professionally was all-encompassing. The time commitment alone was immense, topping twenty hours weekly, but beyond that I dedicated my physical, emotional, and mental self to ballet because the art demanded I do so. Ballet was in charge; I performed as it instructed: think color-by-number painting. This rigidity that once brought me peace grew dull and monotonous, even suffocating. Eventually, dance lost its color. As time went on, ballet increasingly conflicted with the independent and open-minded woman I was becoming. It exacerbated a paradox in my life: what was pushing me the hardest was also holding me back. High school to me meant student government, team sports, and art club. Ballet disagreed; it became jealous and possessive. I resented its control, and I fell out of love with the art. It was time for us to break up.

Ballet's departure from my daily life left a void, but simultaneously freedom. I finally had time to try the extracurricular activities that characterize the high school experience. Participating in cheer and French club, as well as my other endeavors, allowed me to diversify my high school experience in a way pre-professional ballet never would have allowed.

However, the funny thing about my relationship with dance is that it is entirely cyclical. I left my ballet program to immerse myself in my high school community, but in the process of doing so I came right back to it. I started AHS Moves, a drop-in beginner-oriented dance club for any and everyone at my school. What I could not have predicted was the way in which taking ownership of this group would heal my relationship with dance. Directing and choreographing for kids who do not have formal training, and quite frankly do not care, has enabled me to enjoy dance without the pressure of a pre-professional ballet environment. I have realized that my issue with dance was not actually that I did not love it, but that I wanted to do it on my own terms. And now I can.

If you'd like to share your college essay on College Confidential, please email us at [email protected].

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, uva essay examples and tips.

Hi, guys! I'm applying to UVA and I need some help with the application essays. Could you share any examples of successful essays or some tips on how to write a killer UVA essay? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

Hey there! Congrats on applying to UVA! Writing a great essay for UVA means showcasing your unique personality, interests, and values. CollegeVine has a blog post with some great UVA essay examples that you should definitely check out:

https://blog.collegevine.com/uva-essay-examples

Just keep in mind, these examples are helpful for inspiration, but your essays should be authentic and genuine to you, so don't copy them!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

University of Virginia (UVA) Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to approach the UVA essay prompts? With tips from an Ivy League graduate, CollegeAdvisor.com’s guide to the UVA supplemental essays will show you exactly how to write engaging UVA essays and maximize your chances of admission. If you need help crafting your UVA supplemental essays, create your free  account  or  schedule your no-cost advising consultation  with an Admissions Specialist by calling (844) 343-6272.

UVA  essay guide quick facts:

• With an acceptance rate of 23%,  US News  ranks UVA as the #25 research university in the nation.
• US News categorizes UVA as a  most selective  university.
• We recommend answering all UVA essay prompts—optional UVA essays included—thoroughly and thoughtfully.

Does the University of Virginia have supplemental essays?

Yes—all students must complete several UVA supplemental essays to be considered for admission. Accordingly, UVA requires all applicants to complete two required UVA essays in addition to the personal statement that you’ll encounter within the  Common App  or the  Coalition App .

One of your UVA supplemental essays will relate to the specific college where you have chosen to apply, such as UVA’s  College of Arts and Sciences ,  School of Architecture ,  School of Engineering ,  School of Nursing , or  School of Kinesiology . Your other UVA essay will relate more to your own identity.

How many essays are required for the University of Virginia?

There are two required UVA supplemental essays. The first of the UVA essays addresses your chosen field and major. The second of the UVA supplemental essays centers around your own identity. Both required UVA supplemental essays can make a major difference in admissions.

Are the University of Virginia essays important?

Yes, the University of Virginia supplemental essays are an important aspect of your application. In fact, all of the UVA essays give admissions officers a different perspective on what you’ll bring to UVA. So, think of the UVA essay prompts as an opportunity for you to show the admissions team what makes you unique and why you belong at UVA.

With an acceptance rate of just 23%, UVA is a competitive school. The UVA essay prompts give you the chance to stand out from the crowd by offering AOs a glimpse into who you are and what matters to you. To maximize your admissions odds, you’ll want to spend as much time perfecting your UVA supplemental essays as possible!

How do I write a supplemental essay for the University of Virginia?

The best UVA supplemental essays will do two things. First, they will showcase your personality, identity, and values. Second, they will draw connections between your interests and UVA itself. In short, admissions officers should finish reading your UVA supplemental essays with a clear understanding of who you are and why you belong at UVA.

Remember, your UVA supplemental essays are your chance to help admissions officers get to know you. A strong sense of personality and voice, therefore, will make your UVA essays shine. As you consider the UVA supplemental essays 2021, look for the unique stories you can tell that will help your application stand out.

In order to prepare for the UVA essay prompts, you might research UVA’s extracurricular offerings, courses, traditions, and campus culture. As you look through UVA’s website, think about what specific opportunities UVA could offer you. For example, if you are interested in medicine, you might discuss your desire to do research at UVA’s nationally recognized hospital. You could also strengthen your University of Virginia supplemental essays by describing one of UVA’s 800+  student groups . Or, you might also choose to focus on a tradition like the  Lighting of the Lawn  that you witnessed years ago and that made you excited to apply.

Whichever topic you address in the UVA essay prompts, make sure to emphasize why you want to attend UVA over any other school. By describing the specific reasons why UVA interests you, you can show the admissions team that you’ve thought carefully about your application. These details will also make your UVA essays more authentic.

How do you answer the University of Virginia essays?

In a word—authentically!

As you approach the UVA essay prompts, make sure you center your answer around your unique perspective. Avoid vague or broad statements; instead, focus on specific details about UVA (and about you!) that matter most. The strongest UVA essays will give readers a window into an applicant’s inner life while also showing them how this applicant would fit into the UVA community.

Let’s break down the UVA supplemental essays and discuss strategies to help your essay stand out. We’ll begin with the first set of prompts, of which you will choose  one .

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021 – Question 1

What is your favorite word and why? (250 words max)

At first glance, this UVA essay prompt might seem frivolous. Remember, however, that the UVA supplemental essays are intended to help the admissions team learn more about who you are. So, if you choose this question, use the first of the UVA essay prompts to show the admissions officers what makes you unique!

As you approach the UVA supplemental essays, you should think less about the actual word you choose and more about what this choice of word reveals about you. In other words, think about words that are unique, appropriate, and significant to you. Don’t choose a word just because it will stand out. Instead, focus on why a specific word matters to you. For example, you shouldn’t choose the word “lullaby” if it had no deeper meaning to you. Remember, your goal in this UVA essay is to help the admissions team learn more about your identity.

Begin your response to the first of the UVA essay prompts by stating your favorite word. Then, offer some context on why this word—and the ideas that it represents—matters to you. Finally, end the first of your UVA essays by applying your chosen word to your identity, background, or values.

UVA Supplemental Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Have you conveyed your favorite word in a clear manner?
• Does your chosen word represent your curiosity and depth?
• Have you conveyed to the reader why this word is important to you?

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021- Question 2

We are a community with quirks, both in language and in traditions. Describe one of your quirks and why it is part of who you are. (250 words max)

In the UVA supplemental essays, you have the chance to emphasize parts of your personality that the admissions team would not normally see. So, how do you make your University of Virginia supplemental essays memorable and genuine? If you choose this second of the UVA essay prompts, you’ll have a great chance to showcase what makes you unique.

This UVA essay should help your reader envision you—quirks and all—as a member of the UVA community. Think about something special that defines you. For instance, you might wear a lucky jersey before every game or always draw hearts over your lowercase i’s. Like the first of the UVA essay prompts, the success of this UVA essay depends less on what you discuss and more on how you discuss it.

All of your UVA supplemental essays should help your reader learn something new about you. So, whatever quirk you describe in your UVA essay, make sure this quirk reveals something important about your identity. Don’t include meaningless details; instead, focus on specific and significant things you do that make you unique.

• Does the quirk you describe reveal something important about you?
• Does your essay convey your quirk in a clear manner?
• Have you conveyed to the reader why it is part of who you are?

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021- Question 3

Student self-governance, which encourages student investment and initiative, is a hallmark of the UVA culture. In her fourth year at UVA, Laura Nelson was inspired to create Flash Seminars, one-time classes which facilitate high-energy discussion about thought-provoking topics outside of traditional coursework. If you created a Flash Seminar, what idea would you explore and why? (250 words max)

This third of the UVA essay prompts asks you to think about your interests through the lens of UVA’s culture. Like the other UVA supplemental essays, the third of the UVA essay prompt asks you to illustrate both your own identity and how you would fit in at UVA. If you’re invested in joining an intellectual community, then, you might choose this prompt!

While this UVA essay might seem purely academic, you don’t need to approach it this way. According to the prompt, UVA’s Flash Seminars revolve around “thought-provoking topics outside of traditional coursework.” The term “thought-provoking” can mean many things. As you prepare for this UVA essay, think about which topics you would love to discuss with a room full of intellectually engaged UVA students.

Complementary topics

The topic you choose for the third of your University of Virginia supplemental essays should complement the other aspects of your application. This doesn’t mean you can’t describe an interest that you haven’t already addressed! However, keep in mind that your responses to the UVA essay prompts should work together to give the admissions team a complete understanding of your identity, background, interests, and values. Every topic you discuss in your University of Virginia supplemental essays, therefore, should contribute to this understanding. This means that if you’ve spent your whole application describing your interest in poetry and desire to study literature, you might want to think twice before writing an essay about neuroscience (unless, of course, this topic appears elsewhere in your application).

Once again, make sure this third of your UVA essays focuses on why your chosen topic matters to you. As you structure your response, first, describe the topic that you’d explore in a Flash Seminar. Then, discuss why this topic matters to you. What about this topic excites or inspires you? What about it would you want to discuss in a Flash Seminar? How might the UVA community deepen your understanding of this topic?

In this UVA essay, you don’t necessarily have to discuss your opinion on your chosen topic. However, you can focus on how you would contribute to class discussions at UVA. The UVA supplemental essays are meant to exhibit your personality and individuality. In reading your UVA essay, therefore, the admissions team should understand how you will positively contribute to your UVA cohort.

• Do you choose a unique topic to discuss in a Flash Seminar?
• Does your chosen topic enhance the rest of your application?
• Do you clarify why this topic matters to you?
• Does your essay show how you would contribute to the intellectual life of UVA?

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021 – Question 4

UVA students paint messages on Beta Bridge when they want to share information with our community. What would you paint on Beta Bridge and why is this your message? (250 words max)

Like the other University of Virginia supplemental essays, the fourth of the UVA essay prompts asks you to use UVA’s traditions to showcase what makes you unique. For this UVA essay, it might help to do some research: you might look up the  Beta Bridge  to get inspiration. However, don’t get hung up on the messages other students have painted; instead, choose a message that represents who you are.

Your topic should reflect your core values and identity. It might even relate to the qualities you’ve shown in your other University of Virginia supplemental essays. Maybe you want to share advice to future students or a phrase that connects to you. So, whatever message you choose for this UVA essay, make sure that you explain the meaning and reason for your choice. Additionally, keep in mind that Beta Bridge is used to “share information with [UVA’s] community.” The message you describe, therefore, should be impactful to a broader audience than just yourself.

Begin the fourth of your UVA supplemental essays by stating your chosen message. Then, describe the reasons why this message matters to you and what you think it would contribute to the UVA community. Don’t be tempted by clichés—the best responses to the fourth of the UVA essay prompts will be genuine and unique.

• Does your chosen message reflect your identity and values?
• Do you describe the significance of the message you would write on the Beta Bridge?
• Do you detail what this message means and what would it mean to others that view it?
• Does your essay reveal the kind of community member you would be at UVA?

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021 – Question 5

Rita Dove, UVA English professor and former U.S. Poet Laureate, once said in an interview that “…there are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.” Describe a time when, instead of complaining, you took action for the greater good. (250 words max)

Of all the University of Virginia supplemental essays, this might be the most conventional. Simply put, this UVA essay asks you to describe a time when you chose to act to solve a problem and, in doing so, served your community.

While the other UVA supplemental essays focus on your interiority, the fifth of the UVA essay prompts allows you to share a distinct story of a time you made a difference. Choose an event that illustrates your commitment to helping others. The event you choose should also help your readers visualize how you will continue to enrich your community within UVA. Begin your UVA essay by explaining the problem you faced and how you solved it. How did solving this problem contribute to your community? What challenges did you face? How did this experience influence the broader ways you operate as a leader and community member?

If you haven’t done a lot of community organizing or leadership work, this prompt might seem intimidating. However, it doesn’t have to be. Strong UVA supplemental essays can address a wide variety of topics! You might have done something as large-scale as organizing a protest against police brutality or something as small-scale as lobbying your school district to serve meals during the pandemic. When it comes to the UVA supplemental essays, the most important thing is that you show your commitment to serving others in your community—whatever the scale.

• Does your essay describe how you helped others by solving a problem?
• Do you reveal how you’ll be an impactful community member at UVA?
• Do you clarify why your solution to this problem influenced the greater good?

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021– College-Specific (Arts & Sciences)

What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way? (250 words max)

Generally speaking, the college-specific University of Virginia supplemental essays should show the UVA admissions team why you belong in a particular college at UVA. The best college-specific UVA supplemental essays will help the admissions team envision you on their campus. In short, use this UVA essay as your chance to show off your thoughtfulness, intellect, and dedication to your chosen field.

Pay attention to the specific language used in the first of the UVA essay prompts. UVA asks you to discuss an intellectual concept that has “surprised, unsettled, or challenged you.” This UVA essay isn’t asking you to describe your favorite book or song; instead, it asks you to discuss how you engaged on an analytical level with a particular idea or piece of work.

Keep it concise

First, describe your topic. Since you only have 250 words, you shouldn’t feel obligated to include a longwinded anecdote about your interests (though you can always include a brief story to help engage your reader). Then, move into why and how this topic “surprised, unsettled, or challenged you.” For instance, you could discuss how a novel by an author from another cultural background made you think about global issues in a different light. Or, you might discuss how a particular scientific discovery challenged your understanding of the world. Strong UVA essays will help the UVA admissions team understand how a student engages intellectually with the world.

Finally, while you can mention UVA’s specific offerings, don’t feel obligated to answer this prompt as you would a “Why UVA” essay. With only 250 words, don’t focus on the classes you hope to take at UVA or the reasons you think you’d be a good fit. Instead, show the admissions team why your thoughtfulness and intellect would make you an asset to their campus.

• Does your UVA essay describe one (and only one) concept or piece of work that surprised, unsettled, or challenged you?
• Do you explain why this concept surprised, unsettled, or challenged you?
• Does your essay foreground your intellect and critical thinking skills?
• Does your essay show why you’d be a good fit at UVA’s College of Arts and Sciences?

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021– College Specific (Kinesiology)

Discuss an experience that led you to apply to the kinesiology major. (250 words max)

When trying to choose your topics for any of the University of Virginia supplemental essays, do some research. The college-specific UVA supplemental essays address why you want to attend a particular college at UVA. Students who know specific details about the programs they’ve chosen will write the best UVA essays!

This particular UVA supplemental essay prompt asks what specific experience sparked your interest in  kinesiology  at UVA. Avoid general statements, such as “I’ve always been interested in kinesiology and that’s why I want to pursue a major in the field.” This UVA essay prompt asks you to “discuss an experience”—that is, you’ll want to cite a specific event or circumstance that made you interested in kinesiology. For instance, you might talk about how being a dancer made you interested in the body’s ability to create fluid movements. The strongest UVA supplemental essays will address the specific reasons why kinesiology interests you.

To enhance your response to this prompt for the University of Virginia supplemental essays, research what makes UVA’s kinesiology program unique. For example, you might relate the program to your own experiences to emphasize a personal connection to the program and to UVA. Avoid repeating general information—everything you share should come back to your own interests and experiences. However, with only 250 words, don’t spend the majority of this UVA essay describing UVA. Instead, focus your UVA essay on the specific reasons why you want to study kinesiology.

• Does your UVA essay illustrate the specific reasons why you want to study kinesiology?
• Do you discuss a particular experience that sparked your interest in kinesiology?
• Does your essay help your reader envision you in UVA’s kinesiology program?
• Is your essay about you?

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021– College Specific (Architecture)

Describe a significant experience that deepened your interest in studying in the School of Architecture. (250 words max)

Like the other college-specific University of Virginia supplemental essays, the UVA essay prompt for the College of Architecture asks what experience provoked your interest in the major.

Start by doing some research on the  College of Architecture . Think about any experiences you’ve had that align with UVA’s architecture program. If you do not have vast established experience with architecture, don’t worry! UVA doesn’t expect you to have a full architecture portfolio; instead, the admissions team just wants to know what experience has sparked your interest in architecture.

Think about what sparked your interest in studying architecture at UVA. To get some ideas for your UVA essay, you might brainstorm on any experiences you’ve had that relate to architecture. Strong UVA supplemental essays can come from a wide variety of places, so don’t discount any of your experiences! Perhaps you often binge shows on HGTV, or maybe you have every copy of Architectural Digest. Maybe you had an inspiring internship with a designer or structural engineer that made you want to pursue architecture. Whatever topic you choose, make sure you emphasize your personal connection to architecture alongside your desire to study in UVA’s program.

Want some extra help creating your UVA School of Architecture application? Check out CollegeAdvisor.com articles on  choosing an architecture program  and  applying to architecture schools . Listen to the UVA School of Architecture’s Dean discuss their strengths and values in this video below.

• Does your UVA essay describe a specific experience that sparked your interest in architecture?
• Do you use specific details to tell your story?
• Do the interests you describe in your essay align with UVA’s offerings?

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021– College Specific (Nursing)

Describe a healthcare-related experience or another significant interaction that deepened your interest in studying nursing. (250 words max)

Like the other college-specific University of Virginia supplemental essays, the College of Nursing prompt asks you to describe an experience that fostered your interest in healthcare.

As you choose a topic for this UVA essay, try to highlight an experience that shows depth. For example, avoid superficial experiences like watching Grey’s Anatomy; instead, you might focus on a shadowing experience you had in a lab or a meaningful conversation you had with a healthcare provider. You may also research the opportunities available at UVA to see what aligns with your interests. While you shouldn’t spend your whole essay discussing UVA’s programs, you should still have a strong sense of the school’s offerings to make your UVA essay as strong as possible.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to discuss formal medical experience in this UVA essay. On the other hand, think about any ways you’ve interfaced with the medical profession. This could be through formal classes, informal conversations, or anything in between; anything that piqued your interest in healthcare can make a great topic for this UVA essay. For instance, if you took a public policy course that showed you the disparities within the current healthcare structure, highlight that in your essay. Finally, remember that while your choice of topic matters, the most important element of your UVA essay is how your topic relates back to you and your interests. The best UVA supplemental essays will be the most authentic!

• Do you cite specific experiences that fostered your interest in nursing?
• Does your essay clearly represent your inspiration for pursuing nursing?
• Do you illustrate a deep engagement with the healthcare field?

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021– College Specific (Engineering and Applied Sciences)

Describe an engineering feat that serves the common good and why it inspires you to study engineering. (250 words max)

The Engineering and Applied Sciences portion of the UVA supplemental essays ask you to describe an engineering venture that serves the common good and why it inspires you. In evaluating this UVA essay, therefore, the admissions team wants to see that you’ve thought deeply about how engineering can contribute to the world.

Think about why you want to study engineering. What do you want to make, and how will the things you make help improve the world? What feats have shown you what engineering can do for the world? Remember, the engineering feat you choose doesn’t need to be large-scale. Also, if you’re struggling to find a topic, perhaps look at engineering projects that have made an impact on your own community.

Once you’ve chosen your topic for this UVA essay, it’s time to start drafting. Remember that the most important aspect of this UVA essay is  why this engineering feat inspires you . Don’t get sidetracked by describing the intricate methodologies behind your chosen topic; instead, tie your essay back to you. Like the other University of Virginia supplemental essays, this UVA essay should connect to your experiences and emphasize your desire to study engineering at UVA.

• Does your essay make it clear why you want to study engineering?
• Do you explain why your chosen feat contributed to the public good?
• Does your response clarify why engineering matters to you?

Additional Tips for Writing your University of Virginia Supplemental Essays

• Create a checklist for your UVA essays.  Try and keep an outline handy as you write each supplemental essay. Make sure that you answer each of the UVA essay prompts in full by breaking down each question.
• Prepare in advance.  UVA’s Regular Decision deadline is January 3rd, which is coming up soon! You should begin looking at the UVA essay prompts as early as possible to ensure enough time for careful editing.
• Avoid overthinking.  Since most of the UVA essay prompts give you the freedom to express yourself, many students overthink what they should write. This can impede students’ ability to craft authentic University of Virginia supplemental essays.
• Get multiple perspectives.  It’s always good to have a second pair of eyes checking your UVA essays for tone, grammar, and clarity. For example, you might ask your counselor, teacher, or a CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Expert to read over your University of Virginia supplemental essays to help make them as strong as possible.

UVA Supplemental Essays 2021 – Final Thoughts

Completing the UVA supplemental essays can seem like a daunting challenge, but don’t be discouraged from applying. Instead, view these UVA supplemental essays as an opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions team. Well-written UVA essays can make a huge difference in admissions, especially if you’re applying with lower grades or test scores.

While doing your research on UVA consider reading the not-so-secret  blog  written by the Associate Dean in the Office of Admissions.  Dean J  shares important application information, as well as tips and tricks on completing your UVA supplemental essays.

Use resources like the blog and this guide to help you approach the UVA essay prompts with a solid strategy and a timeline that gives you a few months to create a draft and allow for revisions. Good luck!

This 2021-2022 essay guide on UVA was written by  Arianna Lee , Dartmouth ‘17. Want more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on UVA or help crafting your UVA essays? Create your free  account  or  schedule a complimentary advising assessment  by calling (844) 343-6272.

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How to Write the University of Virginia Application Essays 2016-2017

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The University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, VA, has an incredibly rich history. Established in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, its first two rectors were presidents Jefferson and Monroe. This “Public Ivy” is constantly ranked among the top public universities in the nation, and is a well-respected research university, particularly in the fields of medicine and psychology.

It currently stands at #26 on the U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities ranking. Last year, the university received 30,840 applications and accepted 29% of them.

The UVA has 16,483 undergraduates and offers 48 bachelor’s degrees in five undergraduate programs: the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, School of Architecture, School of Nursing, and Kinesiology. The top five most popular majors for the class of 2014 were Economics, Business and Commerce, Biology, International Relations, and Psychology.

The university has a unique vocabulary: The campus is called “the grounds,” and there are no freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors — in a nod to founder Thomas Jefferson’s belief that learning is a lifelong process, students are referred to as first-, second-, third-, or fourth-years.

The University of Virginia’s lifeblood is its student-run honor system, with three simple requirements — students must not lie, cheat, or steal. The university takes this seriously: When accused, a student stands trial in front of their peers. Fellow students, not faculty, serve as the jury. If a student is found guilty, they are immediately expelled.

Outside of academics, the school also excels in sports. The Virginia Cavaliers have won twelve NCAA national championships in the 21st century alone, and students are often found at basketball and lacrosse games. The Cavaliers also have a long-standing rivalry with the Virginia Tech Hokies.

The University of Virginia asks the applicant to first answer a question pertaining to the the applicant’s school of interest, then to choose a second prompt to answer from a list of four. Each essay is 250 words, or half a page.

Want to learn what University of Virginia will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take?  Here’s what every student considering University of Virginia needs to know.

University of Virginia Application Essay Prompts

We are looking for passionate students to join our diverse community of scholars, researchers, and artists. Answer the question that corresponds to the school/program to which you are applying in a half page or roughly 250 words.

College of Arts and Sciences

What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way?

The College of Arts and Sciences receives the most applications of all of the undergraduate schools, so it’s important that your essay stands out. If you are having trouble thinking of a work to write about, make a list of books, music, movies, art pieces, scientific discoveries, etc. that you’ve encountered in the past few years, paying special attention to the ones that you did not immediately like.

Why did you not like them? What made you feel uncomfortable or surprised? How did this further your understanding of the piece itself and of the art form? After brainstorming, your essay should include the context in which you encountered the work, what specific aspect of the work challenged you, and how your understanding and perception of the piece changed — and maybe how it prompted a change in your world view.

An effective essay on this prompt will show off not only your analytical and comprehensive skills in writing coherently about a significant piece of culture, but also will say something about how your perspective and opinions. The underlying question asked in this prompt is how being unsettled, challenged, or surprised helps you grow as a person.

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

If you were given funding for a small engineering project that would make your everyday life better, what would you do?

As an engineering applicant, you have likely thought about future engineering projects, but probably on a much larger and grander scale than UVA asks you to discuss here. This question asks specifically about a small engineering project for everyday life, so now is not the time to discuss your ideas for space travel.

What minor inconveniences do you experience in your day-to-day life? How might you be able to solve those using your engineering skills? This is as much an opportunity to talk about the challenges of your everyday life as it is to show off your engineering chops, so you do not necessarily need to get too technical. Think simple, think small, and think personal.

School of Architecture

Describe an instance or place where you have been inspired by architecture or design.

This prompt sounds pretty straightforward, but remember that you need to tell a story. While your initial answer might be to rave about a certain stunning place objectively, the whole point of the essay is to get to know you , not another architect.

So in answering this question, think about why it had the effect it had on you, add background to your story (Why were you visiting this place at all? What does it mean to you?), and ask yourself how the architecture or design you saw might inspire you as a future architect. Also, allow yourself to think outside the box: Architecture and design don’t necessarily mean buildings. Think about everyday objects that might inspire you as well.

School of Nursing

Discuss experiences that led you to choose the School of Nursing.

Kinesiology Program

Discuss experiences that led you to choose the kinesiology major.

For the Nursing and Kinesiology programs, the prompts are more straightforward — why do you want to study what you want to study? The prompts also ask for experiences, so think of anecdotes in which you knew that you wanted to study Nursing/Kinesiology. Since you have a whole 250 words, after you come up with a compelling narrative for why you’ve chosen your field, go further and answer why you want to study that field at UVA specifically.

Answer one of the following questions in a half page or roughly 250 words.

What’s your favorite word, and why?

This question tends to show up frequently on supplements, but most other schools don’t ask you to write a full 250-word essay about it. This means that instead of just thinking of a word that sounds cool to you and possibly writing a sentence about it, you will want to write about a word that comes with a story.

Maybe it’s the first word you learned in a foreign language; maybe it’s a word that is an inside joke in your family; maybe it’s a food; or maybe it is just a word that sounds cool to you — but in any regard, you should have background for why you love the word you love.

Describe one of your quirks…

We are a community with quirks, both in language and in traditions. Describe one of your quirks and why it is part of who you are.

This is a more specific version of the “tell us who you are” question. For this, you’ll want to convey your personality, framed by a particular aspect of it (the ‘quirk’). Think of a small personal trait that makes you different — maybe a habit that you learned from your parents or a piece of slang that is used by a community you belong to. Then expand on that quirk into how it influences your personality as a whole.

Student Self-Governance

Student self-governance, which encourages student investment and initiative, is a hallmark of the U.Va. culture. In her fourth year at U.Va., Laura Nelson was inspired to create Flash Seminars, one-time classes which facilitate high-energy discussion about thought-provoking topics outside of traditional coursework. If you created a Flash Seminar, what idea would you explore, and why?

As previously noted, UVA is big on student responsibility, with students acting as the enforcement of the honor code. This is taking that idea of independence and self-governance one step further. The key phrase in this prompt is “outside of traditional coursework” — think out of the box for this one. A good way to approach this prompt is to think of hobbies or interests you have that may not necessarily align with typical subjects in school. Alternatively, think of broader interdisciplinary ideas that span multiple subjects. Then, of course, go into why the topic is of particular interest to you.

Beta Bridge Prompt

U.Va. students paint messages on Beta Bridge when they want to share information with our community. What would you paint on Beta Bridge, and why is this your message?

For this prompt, you have a couple of choices: words or images . If you choose words, you’ll want to write something succinct that conveys a message. Your hypothetical bridge-writing cannot be too long and should be attention-grabbing. Bear in mind that even choosing words over images, this is still a visually-based question, so you should consider how you want to present the words. How big are the letters, what color are they, and is there any embellishment?

If you choose images, you have a bit more freedom. Choose an image or a symbol and describe what it looks like and what it means to you. Just remember that you need something without too much detail, because again, it’s going on the side of a bridge.

And, as with all of these prompts, while the answer itself is important, the reason behind it is even more so. Why do these words or images matter to you? What do they mean?

Remember that, while all of the second prompts are interesting questions in and of themselves, the end goal is for the university to get to know you, so remember to tie your answers back to yourself. What does your answer mean to you, why did you come up with it, etc.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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ENWR 1510: Writing about Joy

• Research Resources
• Additional Authors & Works about Joy
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Getting started with this guide.

This guide was created for students in the ENWR 1510 section Writing About Joy. This page includes resources to help you conduct research once you have chosen an author and work for your annotated bibliography and research essay. Need more help? Contact Haley or Sherri.

Still looking for an author/work to focus on for your assignment? See the Additional Authors & Works about Joy tab to the left for more ideas. 

See the grammar, style, and citation tab for general grammar and style guides and assistance in creating citations and bibliographies. The Tools for Access tab includes several tools to help you access library content from anywhere in the world. 

Library Research

Both your annotated bibliography and resulting research essay will require research. In preparation, you will want to start thinking about possible questions/topics of interest related to the author and work you have chosen. You will want to find out what others have said about your author and their work. You will also want to spend some time thinking about how you will conduct your research when the time comes. 

• Fine-tune your searches. Think broadly when brainstorming search terms. What synonyms or related terms could stand in for your key search terms? You can combine search terms using AND ("Black Joy"  AND resistance) and look for synonyms using OR (activism OR advocacy OR action) In many databases, the asterisk (*) is a truncation or "wildcard" symbol  that will match all possible endings for a word stem.  For example, hero* will match hero, heroes, heroism, heroics, heroin , etc.  Most databases have filters or facets that allow you to narrow your results by subject, date range, etc. Limit your searches to help you find the sources you need.   
• Or broaden your search, if needed!  Depending on what you've chosen, may find that there is not a whole lot of commentary on your exact work. Be ready to expand your search - if you're not finding commentary on your chosen essay (or story or poem), look for reviews or criticism on the larger collection in which it was originally published. Look for interviews with the author about their works or their thoughts on joy. Try searching for the name of your author and joy. Even pieces that do not talk directly about your chosen work could be helpful when you're making an argument. Sometimes, an article that doesn't seems to focus on one work includes commentary on many other works as well.   
• Think about where you might find the type of information you are seeking. ​ Will you find the research you need in a print book or e-book? A journal article? A magazine? A newspaper? An interview? Cast a wide net when looking for the types of resources that could help answer your research question or support an argument you are making.   
• Get help understanding UVA Library's many resources and how to navigate them.  If you are new to using UVA Library (or any academic library), or could use a refresher, access tutorials and tips on our How do I . . .? page, which allows you to watch short videos and run through tutorials on a variety of topics related to libraries and research.   
• When you find a good source, use it to find other good sources.  Use the subject terms and keywords associated with an article or essay to find other articles and essays on similar topics. Scholarly essays and journal articles will have works cited, bibliographies, or footnotes you can mine for additional resources. 

Need help? Ask a librarian .  

Finding articles about your author and work

Use library databases (and Virgo) to search for articles and book reviews about your author and their work. Note that some databases, like the MLA International Bibliography, focus mainly on peer reviewed articles, while a more general database like Academic Search Complete or a collection of databases like ProQuest will provide more magazine and newspaper content that may be of interest.

MLA International Bibliography (MLAIB)  indexes the broadest range of resources about literature in all languages, as well as film, television, and popular culture, including over 4,000 journals as well as books and dissertations. For articles not available full-text in MLA, click on “Find article @ UVa Libraries,” or look up the journal title in Virgo, the library catalog.

Academic Search Complete is a large general database of articles from scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers on many topics.

ProQuest  offers UVa faculty, staff, and students access to over 50 separate databases, covering numerous fields and including books, newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals and trade journals, and more. 

Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature  is an index to the most popular and important periodicals. Covering subjects such as art, business, education and entertainment, it is an ideal general reference database for students.

Google Scholar is useful for finding scholarly articles, books, and websites. It can also be useful for seeing who has cited an article or essay after it was published. 

Finding articles & essays in books using Virgo

Virgo , the UVA Library’s primary search tool, contains catalog records for books, print journals, DVDs, maps, and digitized materials, as well as links to online articles from our rich array of subscription journals. You can search catalog materials and articles together by searching everything, or view those results separately. You can also use various facets provided to limit your results by author, format, publication period, and more.

Below are a few examples of print books and ebooks of criticism related to some of the authors and themes you have been/will be reading in class. 

• Next: Additional Authors & Works about Joy >>
• Last Updated: Sep 2, 2024 8:06 AM
• URL: https://guides.lib.virginia.edu/enwr1510/joy
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Forbes: Employees Say UVA Is the Best College Workplace in Virginia

August 28, 2024 • By Mike Mather, [email protected] Mike Mather, [email protected]

• Mike Mather, [email protected]

Forbes has ranked UVA as the top college in Virginia for worker satisfaction, based on a survey of some of the University’s nearly 20,000 employees. (Illustration by John DiJulio)

A new Forbes survey of the best places to work in Virginia shows the University of Virginia is the top college or university in the state for employee satisfaction, and No. 10 among large companies of any kind.

To create the publication, “America’s Best Employers by State,” Forbes partnered with the market research firm Statista “to survey more than 160,000 employees working for companies with at least 500 people within the United States.”

The employees were asked, on a scale of zero to 10, whether they would recommend their company. The list of Virginia employers includes companies headquartered in the state, but also those with a substantial presence in the Old Dominion.

Steel Dynamics of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Google, based in Mountain View, California; and Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, were the top Virginia companies in the survey.

Of companies headquartered in Virginia, UVA is ranked as the third-best place to work, behind Vienna-based Navy Federal Credit Union and Newport News-based Ferguson Enterprises.

Employee Satisfaction of Virginia Universities

“UVA is successful because of the approximately 20,000 dedicated faculty and staff who work tirelessly to support our core missions of education, teaching and research,” J.J. Wagner-Davis, UVA’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said. “We recognize it is a competitive environment to attract and retain talent. We are deeply honored for this award and continue to focus on making UVA the best workplace in the country.”

Virginia Tech was the second-highest-ranked educational institution in the state (26th overall), followed immediately by Old Dominion University.

Last year, Forbes also ranked UVA as a top 10 employer in Virginia. 

“Being recognized again in 2024 as a top employer is truly an honor and reflection of UVA as a good and great place to work,” said John Kosky, vice president and chief human resources officer, in a nod to the University’s “Great and Good” strategic plan. “It truly takes a village to reach this level, which is made possible by a world-class faculty and staff, and support from our managers and leaders. The result speaks for itself and we are optimistic that we’ll continue this standard of excellence in the coming years.”

Forbes ranked UVA Health in the top five for health care organizations headquartered in Virginia and as the 41st best company overall in the state. It’s one of several recent honors for UVA Health. Newsweek recently ranked UVA Health University Medical Center as the No. 1 hospital in Virginia while U.S. News & World Report ranked UVA’s School of Medicine as one of the tops in the nation for research and primary care.

Media Contact

Mike Mather

Managing Editor University Communications

[email protected] (434) 243-3781

Article Information

September 4, 2024

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UVA's First-Ever Data Science Majors Begin Their Journey

A new era at the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science officially kicked off, as the inaugural class of data science undergraduate majors arrived for orientation on the eve of UVA’s first day of classes. 

Throughout the day at the new School of Data Science building , students heard from faculty and staff, learned more about their curriculum, took headshots and a group photograph, and began to familiarize themselves with classrooms and other features of the facility that would be their academic home. 

The day also served as a call to action, as students learned not only what requirements would be needed to complete their degree but what a data science education at UVA represented — and the integral role they would soon play in advancing the mission of the first school in the nation dedicated to the field.

“We don’t want to be the first at being it. We want to be the first at it and be the best,” Phil Bourne , founding dean of the School of Data Science, told the students. “But that’s only going to happen when you perform here and when you perform in your careers going forward.

Bourne also urged students, as they learned new technical skills in the years ahead, to not lose sight of a foundational principle of the School of Data Science.

“I want you to think about how you use those skills to really promote data science for the public good and society’s benefit,” he said. 

Brian Wright , director of undergraduate programs at the School of Data Science, highlighted the diversity of the 75-student cohort , with 57% of the class identifying as female — a figure that was significantly higher than is typically seen in STEM programs at UVA, he said.

“We’re setting a new standard,” Wright said.  

The day also offered students the opportunity to get to know one another and, potentially, plant the seeds for future collaborations — another core value of the School.

Claire Bassett said she hadn’t decided on an academic path when she arrived at UVA from Baltimore as a first-year student in fall 2023. But after a conversation with Wright, she knew that the School of Data Science could be a home for her.

“I could tell how supportive and welcoming the community was going to be, and that’s really, I think, what drove me into data science,” she said. 

Bassett said that one of the aspects of her new academic program that she is most excited about is that she is joining a group of students who are all embarking on a new path.

“I think that’s really going to bond us together,” she said.

The launch of the data science undergraduate program, which was approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia last September , comes 10 years after the creation of a data science master’s degree at UVA, which was then offered by the Data Science Institute, the precursor to the School of Data Science. 

An online data science master’s program was launched in 2019 and was followed by a data science undergraduate minor in 2020 and then a doctoral program in 2022. With the establishment of the major, the School of Data Science now has a full offering of degree options for students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Students apply to the data science major in the spring of their first year, provided they have completed or are in the process of completing the program’s two prerequisite courses, DS 1001: Foundations of Data Science and DS 1002: Programming for Data Science. 

The new major is a three-year program, and its curriculum focuses on the four domains that guide work at the School of Data Science: analytics, systems, value, and design, which are applied toward a fifth domain, practice.

While there will be many more classes of data science majors in the years ahead, the Class of 2027 will be the only one who can lay claim to being the first. It is a leap of faith that did not go unnoticed by Wright and Bourne.

Wright told the group it took “courage” to be the first class to pursue this new program and encouraged students to share feedback with faculty and staff throughout their time at the School.

“Come to us and push us and say, ‘Hey, this isn’t working. This is working. This is what we want from this degree,’” he said. 

Wright added: “The whole process here, everything that we do, we want to do it for you guys.”

Taking risks and charting new paths are central ideas in the story of efforts to establish data science as an academic discipline at UVA , and Bourne saluted the School's newest group of risk-takers for joining that tradition.

“Thank you for taking the journey with us,” he said.

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School of Nursing

Triple alumna shares leadership lessons and insights from a distinguished nursing career.

August 27, 2024

Author: Moira Neve

Jeniece Roane, Ph.D., vice president of operations for the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU offers a glimpse into the experiences that have shaped her journey in and beyond the classroom.

Not every nurse gets to build a hospital as part of their career, but Jeniece Roane, Ph.D., RN, NE-BC, (B.S. ‘93, M.S. ‘07, Ph.D. ‘24), has done just that. The three-time alumna has made a mark on improving health care for children, perhaps most visibly in the child-centered design of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR) where she is the vice president of operations.

Recently honored by the school with the Paul A. and Veronica H. Gross Achievement in Nursing Award, Roane, who began her career in a pediatric intensive care unit, has been a dedicated member of the VCU healthcare community since 1997. In reflecting on this pivotal phase of her career, she shared valuable insights into the leadership lessons and academic accomplishments in nursing.

How did your experiences as a pediatric nurse inspire you to advocate for improvements in healthcare environments for children?

I'm a triple alumna of the VCU School of Nursing, but I actually started out as a pharmacy major before choosing to become a nurse due to my passion for directly engaging with patients and making a meaningful impactful difference in their care experience. Additionally, as long as I have been able to remember I have had a love for children, and so being able to marry this care with then specializing in pediatrics very early on in my career really was the impetus for becoming a nurse practitioner.

I earned my bachelor's, master’s and then most recently my Ph.D. from the VCU School of Nursing. With every step, with every degree that I've gone on to pursue, my goal has been to help me develop new skills that will help me improve the health outcomes for children. If I were to really hone in and reflect are the experiences that led me down this path, led me to pursue both my masters and my Ph.D., I think that it my experiences as a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurse. As a PICU nurse, you are put in these positions where you're working with families that many times right didn't even know that an ICU existed let alone finding themselves needing the services of the ICU. Those experiences and then later a role as a nurse manager really helped shape my advocacy skills. On the one hand, you have to advocate as a part of the medical team. Also, as a PICU nurse you build relationships with family members at a very critical juncture in their child's life, and find yourself stepping in frequently to serve as a parental advocate and support. It's those experiences in the PICU that really shaped me and changed me as a nurse. 

Your dissertation focused on "Nurse-Led Home Visitation and Parental Reasoning About Child Discipline." Could you share what initially sparked your interest in this topic and how it influences your work at the Children's Hospital?

As a PICU nurse, I saw, and frankly had the misfortune of having to care for, children who were abused. My Ph.D. work focuses on trying to understand what interventions might be most effective at reducing the incidence of child maltreatment. Those PICU years were formative not only in who I became as a bedside nurse, but in creating the foundation for who I am today and what I hoped that I would accomplish by pursuing my Ph.D.

What was it like to transition in your career from being in nursing school, to working as a pediatric nurse, to finishing the Ph.D. program, and now to step into such an important leadership role within the VCU Health System?

When I started the program, I was the nursing director for Women’s and Children’s Health. As I moved through the program, along the way I was promoted to associate vice president for Women’s and Children’s Health. Then, during COVID, I was asked to step up to an interim position while I was still in the program as the chief nursing officer (CNO) for the medical center. Once we found a permanent CNO, I went back to my role as vice president of operations for the Children’s Hospital.

The support I received from the faculty of the School of Nursing has just been incredible. Honestly, reflecting on navigating the undergraduate program, the graduate program and then my Ph.D. program, I have had incredible support from my advisors and the faculty, and from the dean at the time. Dean Jean Giddens served as dean for most of my Ph.D. program, and provided amazing support throughout the time of my entire academic pursuits. 

One way was that they were incredibly flexible: my dissertation topic was not a typical subject area that a nursing student might pursue, but my committee and advisors worked very closely with me to ensure that I was able to focus on an area that I wanted, while still meeting expectations, completing the rigorous coursework required of me, moving into the dissertation phase, and completing my dissertation. Without a doubt, I feel that I was very supported by the VCU Nursing School community.

What advice would you give to current students in the VCU Nursing School?

It took me eight years to complete my Ph.D. I think this is important for other students who are in this program to understand and know because it is easy to watch other people who are on this journey. Some people move pretty quickly and others move slowly. 

What I tried to remember and encourage everyone to remember is, your journey is your journey. Your work is your work. If you're going to make a meaningful impact, you have to embrace whatever the timeline is so that you can produce a quality research project. I took my time. 

What was it like stepping up into your role during COVID-19?

It was definitely challenging, but that's really where I think the support, particularly from my advisor Terry Jones , Ph.D., was pivotal for me. As I was contemplating whether or not I was going to accept this interim appointment, she and I met to talk about what it would mean for my Ph.D. journey. Together we crafted a plan for how I could still progress, while taking on this demanding role right at the height of COVID. This was before[the] Delta [variant], this was before [the] Omicron [variant], this was before we even had vaccines. Stepping up to this interim role was challenging, but I think with the support of Dr. Jones as well as my colleagues I really felt like they gave me the space to be able to fulfill my role, but also carve out time to continue to progress within the program. I would also add, having a really special husband and supportive friends and family goes a long way as well, because without that support and grace, I don’t know if I would've been able to do it all.

Yes, are there challenges everyday? Sure there are. But for me, when you are working for a group of people that share a common mission–and for us that is being organized and focused around providing care for children–I don’t think there is anything better than that. It is an honor to get to come in and do this work everyday.  Jeniece Roane, Ph.D.

What drew you to your current role?

Well I think that for us for those of us who have really dedicated our careers to caring for children, particularly if you've been here in the city of Richmond (I've been at VCU at the medical center since 1997), we have always felt like we needed a place that was dedicated to a space dedicated to caring for children. To now have an entire tower that is dedicated to the care and enhancing the well-being of children has been a game-changer: not only for the children and their families in the region, but also for our teams. We have always provided exceptional care, and now we have the environment that reflects the exceptional care that they have always provided. 

What is your favorite thing about your role at CHoR?

For me, serving in this role as vice president of operations, the greatest joy that I have is getting to see and support our team members, and helping to remove barriers for them that might impede their ability to deliver their very best care everyday. It is being able to see the joy my team gets from working in a place that is dedicated to the delivery of care for children. Yes, are there challenges everyday? Sure there are. But for me, when you are working for a group of people that share a common mission–and for us that is being organized and focused around providing care for children–I don’t think there is anything better than that. It is an honor to get to come in and do this work everyday. 

How does it feel to have the new CHoR Tower?

It feels like a dream that has come true. Not every story is a happy story, but to see children and families in this environment where every detail was thought about, debated, fine tuned, with a child and a family in mind, that brings me so much joy that it is difficult to articulate. When you’ve dedicated your career to children, and come from an environment where you had [only] one level dedicated to children’s in-patient services within the adult hospital, to now three in-patient units, plus an emergency department, growing child-life programs, spaces that have been crafted so we can carry out high and specialty care like bone-marrow transplants, a dedicated trauma bay, and all our personnel that help us deliver on that promise to take care of children, it really is something special to be a part of. I am grateful to have played a small role in this work. There are people that never get to build a new hospital as part of their career, so to be able to influence the decisions that are made and knowing that the decisions have an impact on how care is delivered today is really special. 

What is your favorite space in the tower?

That’s a hard question, but I think it's probably going to be a space that hasn't come online yet, but is in the works. The new Child Life Zone is expected to open in late summer 2024, and this zone will be one of 15 child life zones across the country that is supported through a partnership with Garth Brooks Foundation, called Teammates for Kids. We are able to bring the space to fruition through a philanthropy. We've got a donor from the community that has pledged two million dollars to help bring the space online. This Child Life Zone helps us try to “normalize” the experience of a child that is in the hospital. There's nothing normal about that, but spaces like these help us distract the child and the family from what they are going through. These Child Life Zones are filled with all kinds of places for children to be engaged, to be creative, and to step away from the stressors of the bedside in order to just be a child, even just for a few short minutes. The work that our Child Life team has done to think through all the details, and work to make this zone unique and special to VCU and to CHoR has brought this space to life.

I am grateful to have played a small role in this work. There are people that never get to build a new hospital as part of their career, so to be able to influence the decisions that are made and knowing that the decisions have an impact on how care is delivered today is really special.  Jeniece Roane, Ph.D.

The other space is the Ronald McDonald House Charity Space. We have the first house in a hospital, the first of its kind in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We have partnered with Ronald McDonald Charities to build out a four bed suite where parents can come down and find some time to lay down, step away from the bedside, and get some rest. There is also a kitchenette that enables parents to get some food, there's an outdoor terrace on it so there's space for parents to step outside without having to physically leaving the building, there’s laundry for parents to utilize, and the house is staffed and manned by a Ronald McDonald House Charities staff. That level of support and care our families can receive with a trusted partner like the team at Ronald McDonald House Charities makes this one of my favorite aspects of the space. This space also sets our building and the care that we're delivering apart from what we were able to do previously, and sets us apart from other places that deliver children’s care.

Looking ahead, what are your goals and vision for the future of the Children's Hospital of Richmond, and how do you plan to achieve them?

We are actually preparing to expand services here, so I would say that is what I'm most excited about. We have seen double digit growth in almost every service–our emergency department visits, acute pediatric care volume, pediatric intensive care volume, our operating room volume–since we built the tower. We knew that we were going to likely need some additional space to build out over time, and so there's plenty of shell space here in the tower. We're in the discussion and design phase right now for adding 18-20 additional beds for our neonatal intensive care unit. Next, we are going to be building out a second floor of acute care pediatric services. It is very busy within the children’s space, so I am very excited that I will be working together with our teams to build those spaces out.

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